Dr. Barbara L. Grota began serving as Assistant Dean in the Mario J. Gabelli School of Business at Roger Williams University (RWU) and as an Assistant Professor of Management in 2000. Dr. Grota is experienced with practioner faculty development, management, academic advising, curriculum development and teaching. Her work with practioner faculty in the business school has earned praise from numerous representatives of - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International), the accrediting body for the Mario J. Gabelli School of Business.

In addition, Dr. Grota has been responsible for the RWU Leadership Institute since its creation in 2009. The Institute provides leadership development and education to a wide variety of constituents; both international and domestic from the private and public sectors, including professionals, graduate and undergraduate students.

Dean Grota began her work at Roger Williams University in the Cooperative Education and Internship Program. Prior to her work at RWU, Dr. Grota created and implemented the cooperative education program for the New England Institute of Technology.

Dr. Grota has been teaching at the undergraduate level in the areas of Management and Psychology since 1985. In 1997, she earned the Excellence in Teaching Award by the Alpha Chi, National Honor Society. Dean Grota was awarded the Humanity Award from the Multicultural Affairs Department at Roger Williams University in 1996 for her work to promote understanding and acceptance of diversity on campus.

Dr. Grota earned her doctorate in Organizational Psychology, summa cum laude, in 2005 from Walden University. She holds a Master of Science degree in Counseling from Syracuse University, earned magna cum laude and completed her undergraduate degree magna cum laude at Southeastern Massachusetts University. In addition to her interest in leadership, management, and organizational behavior, Dr. Grota’s research focus is on stress management and resilience.